Public Health

Public Health England launches new infectious disease strategy. The new strategy addresses current and future threats to health, including antibiotic resistance and health inequalities. Over the last decade, 19 new genetic mechanisms of antibiotic resistance have been identified in bacteria causing infections in the UK. The findings come as Public Health England (PHE) sets out[…]

Mayo Clinic, Cerner expand into UK with new Oxford partnership. The Mayo Clinic is set to establish its first healthcare facility in the United Kingdom, via a collaboration with Oxford University Clinic. The new clinic, set to open later this month, will deploy Cerner Millennium as its foundational electronic health record platform. WHY IT MATTERS[…]

First of its kind community Diabetes Village opens for patients. People registered with a Leicester GP practice and either living with type 2 diabetes or at risk of developing diabetes will soon be able to access a wide portfolio of support services all under one roof. A new diabetes village opened its doors at the[…]

Doctor dares ‘muppet’ Rees-Mogg to report him after no-deal clash. Politician called neurologist ‘shameful’ for raising concerns about supply of medicines. Rees-Mogg accuses doctor of ‘fearmongering’ about potential no-deal deaths. The consultant neurologist who clashed with Jacob Rees-Mogg over contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit has challenged the politician to report him to the General Medical Council.[…]

Device that predicts heart failure based on saliva developed A hand-held device to predict heart failure based on saliva has been developed with the aim of helping millions of potential victims take preventative steps to avoid their fate. A multi-partner deal has been signed to bring the technology to market. It contains nano-sensors on the[…]

Out-of-area General Practitioner rules should be ‘withdrawn’. Out-of-area GP registration rules should be “withdrawn” to prevent digital providers prioritising healthy patients, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said. The regulations “are not in line” with wider NHS England policy on population-based health management and are no longer required due to the rising number of telephone,[…]

CliniSys software to play major role in supporting new cervical screening service. Leading lab tech provider announces that its software will support all of the eight hubs chosen to deliver the primary HPV programme. CliniSys is set to play a major role in supporting England’s primary HPV screening service,after securing contracts to provide its requesting[…]

Digital consultation service receives CQC accreditation. Messaging-based consultation service Docly has received CQC accreditation and has subsequently launched across the UK. In the first weeks since its launch, Docly has provided 200 additional consultations to one practice alone. Barnaby Poulton, managing director of Docly, said: “We are rightly proud to be the first messaging-based digital consultation[…]

Digital diabetes prevention launched. Digital support will be offered to people who are susceptible to Type 2 diabetes to prevent them from getting the condition. These thousands of people are being helped in this way as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The initial schemes are offering 24/7 online support and advice, and so[…]

Ascenti launches revolutionary exercise and rehabilitation app PhysioNow. Thousands of NHS and private patients set to benefit from round the clock guidance that will change the way musculoskeletal injury is treated nationwide. Currently 16.9% of the population in England, across all ages, have back pain; with 60-80% of adults likely to experience back pain in[…]

You can’t replace the GP with an algorithm – so don’t try to, Matt Hancock. The government wants to replace NHS health screening with AI. But for many people, face-to-face consultations are a lifeline ‘Potentially removing face-to-face contact with GPs reeks of yet more cost-cutting.’ An older man gets his blood pressure checked in a[…]

Pupils who drink, smoke and take drugs more likely to be unhappy, data shows The latest data from NHS Digital looked at young people aged 11 to 15 (PA) School pupils who have recently smoked, drunk alcohol and taken drugs are more likely to be unhappy, new figures have revealed. The latest data from[…]

Family raising money in fight over medical treatment for daughter Tafida Raqeeb, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in February (Family handout/PA) A couple who want to take their seriously ill daughter to Italy for treatment after UK doctors said it is in her best interests to be allowed to die have asked people to[…]

Sixth person dies from listeria outbreak The Good Food Chain supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK (Andrew Matthews/PA) A sixth person has died after eating pre-packaged sandwiches and salads linked to a listeria outbreak, Public Health England (PHE) has said. The latest death was one of the nine cases previously confirmed and PHE said[…]

Essex: Five deaths in 36 hours possibly linked to same batch of drugs Police warn anyone considering taking Class A drugs in the Essex area that they are investigating the deaths of five people Police believe the deaths may be linked to Class A drugs Police are investigating whether the deaths of five people are[…]

Ebola: How a disease is prevented from spreading Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire (L) helps to lead WHO efforts to tackle Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. WHO For health workers on the frontlines of the battle against Ebola, time means everything. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international health emergency in[…]

New blood pressure drug approach ‘may prevent more heart attacks and strokes’ A new blood pressure drug approach may prevent more heart attacks and strokes, according to a study (Anthony Devlin/PA) A third more heart attacks and strokes could be prevented in the UK if the way blood pressure drugs are prescribed is changed,[…]

Department of Health apologises over crowded stroke services meeting Kellie Armstrong took this picture in the foyer of the hotel:KELLIE ARMSTRONG The Department of Health (DH) has apologised for postponing a public engagement on reshaping stroke care because too many people turned up. The meeting was due to take place in the Strangford Arms Hotel in Newtownards,[…]

ORCHA partners with mental health charity to protect young people. Young people at risk of suicide now have access to clinically-proven digital tools thanks to a new partnership between health app evaluation organisation ORCHA and charity Papyrus. ORCHA has provided the mental health charity with a microsite to allow young people to manage their own[…]

Listeria outbreak: One of five killed after eating sandwich is identified. Five people are suspected to have died after eating pre-packed sandwiches and salads at NHS hospitals. There has been a listeria outbreak at several hospitals One of the victims of the listeria outbreak at UK hospitals is a businessman who ate a contaminated sandwich, according[…]

Medical groups warn climate change is a ‘health emergency’. As Democratic presidential hopefuls prepare for their first 2020 primary debate this week, 74 medical and public health groups aligned on Monday to push for a series of consensus commitments to combat climate change, bluntly defined by the organizations as “a health emergency.” The new climate[…]

New commitments in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Professor Dame Sally Davies will become UK special envoy on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and details announced on funding UK’s work in global fight against AMR. Public Health Minister Seema Kennedy has confirmed the government will be retaining the world-leading expertise of outgoing Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame[…]

Women not aware enough of breast cancer link to alcohol. GETTY IMAGES Women know too little about alcohol’s role in increasing breast cancer risk, a study suggests. Only one in five women attending a breast cancer clinic knew it was a risk factor. But alcohol consumption is estimated to be responsible for 5-11% of cases.[…]